The 3Cat program Que Qui dedicates an episode to horses with the participation of IPHES-CERCA

The scientific outreach program Que Qui by 3Cat has aired the episode titled “A cavall cap al passat”, dedicated to the relationship between humans and horses throughout history. The episode features the prominent participation of Dr. Josep Maria Vergès, a researcher at IPHES-CERCA.

In this episode, hosted by biologist and science communicator Pere Renom, the program explores the role of horses from prehistory to the present day, combining scientific rigor, experimentation, and an accessible, educational tone.

An exceptional testimony of Palaeolithic art

Dr. Vergès' participation focuses on the Palaeolithic engravings discovered in the Font Major cave, in L'Espluga de Francolí, one of the most exceptional rock art sites in Catalonia.

Among the documented figures, the engraving of a horse of great technical and artistic quality, dated between 26,000 and 37,000 years ago, is particularly noteworthy. This representation serves as an extraordinary testimony to the symbolic and economic importance of this animal for prehistoric communities.

Dr. Vergès is the discoverer of this site, located in 2019, which includes more than a hundred engravings with figurative representations and abstract signs, and has become the first known Palaeolithic sanctuary in Catalonia.

You can watch the episode here.